Winter Freeze

It began on January 23, 2012, a new moon.  The day before the high was 32.  On a clear night the temperature dropped to 27 and there was some snow and wind.   In the morning the sun came out and as the temperature rose, fog appeared.  Alex, our facility supervisor, was out and about as the grounds crew began clearing snow from walks.  He took a lot of pictures, in the sunshine, and then in the fog.  This one is the best of all, taken from the non-public area on the back side of the temple.  Actually, the photo has been "flipped" so it works better as wallpaper on a computer!  But otherwise, it is untouched.

JD noted the fog and took this beautiful photo a little later through our window.  (It was a Monday plus the temple was closed at this time so we were home and not in the temple.)

So our deep freeze began, and how could you not like the way Heavenly Father helped us enjoy it!  We had nights of single digit lows, sometimes minus, and days where the temperature maybe got up into the teens.  This is all Farenheit.  Of course in Centigrade, everything was MINUS!  The temple reopened on Jan 31.  But we didn't have far to walk from our cozy apartments that kept the same constant temperatures we had set in the low 70's, to the temple where the temperature was equally comfortable.  But then we needed to go to Chernigov on a Sunday that was COLD so we just dressed with more layers than worn previously.

We are at the bus stop, having walked a half mile.  JD was grateful for his balaklava to keep his head warm.  I had a hat and two hoods over my head!  The hand was only ungloved for taking the previous picture.  It was 6:45 am and the temperature was about -12 and it was Feb 12.  But we made it there and back enjoying our Sunday worship and visit with the hardy saints that came to church that Sunday.

Our work at the temple continued.  This couple was married civilly and took photos outside the temple prior to their reception in the chapel and then the temple sealing in the evening.  It was good planning to have fancy jackets for the occasion!  This was Feb 18 and it was about 18 degrees but sunny and calm.

The next day we went to Chernigov again.  This time it was only -2 and at 6:45a, just a week later, it was morning twilight!  I always marvel at the babushkas who set up their little stands to sell cups of hot coffee, mostly, and some other snacks.  What time did she arrive?  How did she keep warm?

Before our bus arrived, she did have two vehicles stop!  I don't know how much money she makes on a small drink made from hot water in her thermos, but obviously it is necessary for her living or she wouldn't be there.  (She wasn't there the Sunday before.)

Arriving back that afternoon to our temple grounds, we took this photo of the temple with the red crab apples that have been beautiful ornaments all winter long.  Soon the returning birds will enjoy them

On February 22, also a new moon, the temperature rose to 37.  In the days that followed temperatures remained above freezing, and the low one night was even above freezing!  We had sunshine and even some rain.  Though there was some more snow, the sun in the daytime melted more than fell.  The winds were mostly warm, also melting the snow.  Spring will come.

Famous Palaces in the Yalta Area

In the 19th century the Yalta area was closely associated with royalty.

VORONTSOV ALUPKA PALACE

The palace was commissioned to be used as a summer residence for the Governor-General of Novorossiya who resided in Odessa, Prince M S Vorontsov (1782-1856). Construction on the palace began in 1830 and continued until 1848. Vorontsov never lived there.  Because he was raised and educated in England, he had it built in English style.  Churchill felt at home when he stayed there for the Yalta Conference. The Vorontsov Palace is one of the oldest and largest residential palaces in all of Crimea, and because it is also the most well preserved and furnished, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions.

This is a diagram of the entire palace complex grounds, which is now a museum.

Several towers and a part of the defense wall remained from a more ancient castle.

The first room to be constructed was the dining room, built from 1830-1834.

The billiard room at the back was added 10 years later.

We walked through the conservatory

The garden was set up in 1838 and the creeping ficus has remained from old times.  Many of the sculpted busts are of Vorontsovs made in Paris in the 1820's.  

I began thinking I was walking through a "Clue" game board!




















Next was the Blue Living Room

  Notice the flowers and leaves are applied stucco ornaments.  The fireplace is carved Carrera marble.

This is the corner of the Chinese Room which was occupied by Winston Churchill with the British delegation when the Yalta Conference was held in 1945.  

These are photos of the exterior.

Three pairs of marble lions (covered from the weather) flank the sides of the central staircase leading down into the gardens that are terraced to the Black Sea. 

 The library wing was constructed last.

The park area behind the castle is more natural and includes numerous rocks and this lovely swan pond.

LIVADIA PALACE

The Livadia estate southwest of Yalta became a summer residence of the Russian Imperial family in the 1860's after the Crimean War.  They had a large palace, a small palace, and a church built there. The residence was frequented by Alexander II (his wife had tuberculosis), while his successor Alexander III used to live (and died) in the smaller palace. It was perhaps the latter circumstance that led his son Nicholas to have both palaces torn down and replaced with a larger structure.  (The chapel where Alexander III's funeral service was held and where Nicholas II took his oath and his bride adopted Orthodoxy still exists.)

Constructed during 17 months in 1910-1911, this palace was used by the last Russian Imperial family in the autumns of 1911 and 1913, and the springs of 1912 and 1914.

We entered around the right side into the vestibule with the large "White Hall" to the right.  Grand receptions, banquets, and balls were held here.  Indirect lighting (partially shown) accentuated the ceiling stucco.  The Tsar's eldest daughter, Olga, had her 16th birthday anniversary celebration here.

The room is set with the round table used for the war time meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and General Secretary Joseph Stalin, respectively, for the purpose of discussing Europe's post-war reorganization held February 4–11, 1945.

The next room was the state reception room.  The photo displayed shows Stalin and Roosevelt sitting together talking.  This room was Roosevelt's study during the conference.  

This was the state study of Nicholas II.  It was used as Roosevelt's bedroom.

Next was the billiard room but it is now set with the table used for signing the official documents at the end of the conference meetings.

Just outside this room and the grand hall is this lovely Italian courtyard where photos 

were taken of the conference  participants.

This little Arabian courtyard is actually a ventilation and light well for the rooms but nicely decorated with oriental tiles and a marble fountain on the unseen wall.

Upstairs were rooms for the family, now used to display paintings and memorabilia.

MASSANDRA PALACE

Northeast of Yalta is an estate that became the property of Prince Vorontsov, son of the builder of the palace in Alupka.  In 1881 he started building a chateau-type palace, but then died the following year.  Alexander III purchased the property and resumed the construction in 1889 for his own use but he did not live to see it completed in 1900.  Nicholas II's family came there on outings from Livadia but never stayed there. 

Much smaller than the previous palaces, it still was elegantly done.  These are the outside courtyard walls (behind the photographer in the previous photo).

 And these are the utility buildings!

The interior is likewise smaller but lovely.

Above is one of the china closets built in the dining room.  Below is the entry vestibule (to the right of the windows/doors) and entry hall.

Above is a beautiful built-in cherry bookcase; below an intricate ceiling of sculptured plaster.

Two different sitting rooms

The upper floor consisted of mostly bedrooms.  But in them were displayed artwork from Soviet times.  During the Soviet years, the palace was employed by Joseph Stalin as his dacha.  We quite enjoyed these paintings and sculptures of Russian common people.

The grounds seem to be more practical gardens than ornamental, though it is hard to tell under the snow.  This is a well-known wine producing area.